A position description is a detailed document that outlines the specific duties, responsibilities, and qualifications required for a particular position. Every position in your department should have a separate position description which outlines the essential functions of that specific position.

A classification standard, which is designed and maintained by the CSU and shared among all 23 campuses, is used to determine the grade level /classification of a job based on its complexity, responsibility, and scope of work. A classification standard evaluates a position’s worth relative to other positions and ensures consistency and fairness in the job classifications across the CSU.

Always remember, the position description describes “what the job is,” while the classification standards describe “where the job fits.”

Position descriptions differ from Classification Standards in the following ways:

• Position descriptions identify essential functions of a position to meet your departmental needs, whereas Classification Standards are official CSU documents that state general duties.
• Position descriptions are used to manage performance, whereas Classification Standards are used for classification purposes and job audits.